Translation guide
Describes actions, behaviors, or states that are done regularly or are characteristic of a person. Japanese often uses adverbs, verb forms, or specific constructions rather than a single adjective.
To say that someone does something regularly or as a habit.
Expresses a personal rule or conscious habit. The speaker has decided to do something regularly.
毎朝ジョギングをすることにしています。
I make it a habit to jog every morning.
Indicates an effort to make something a habit, often for health or improvement.
毎日野菜を食べるようにしています。
I try to eat vegetables every day.
Noun meaning 'habit' or 'custom'. Used to describe habitual actions.
彼は寝る前に本を読む習慣があります。
He has a habit of reading a book before bed.
Adverb meaning 'always' or 'usually'. Simple way to express habitual actions.
私はいつも朝コーヒーを飲みます。
I always drink coffee in the morning.
To describe a persistent state or a characteristic behavior of someone.
Adjective meaning 'habitual' or 'chronic', often used for negative behaviors like lying or gambling.
彼は常習的に嘘をつく。
He is a habitual liar.
Means 'chronic', used for persistent conditions or problems.
Indicates someone is always doing something, often with a negative nuance of doing nothing else.
彼は文句を言ってばかりいる。
He is always complaining.
To express that something used to happen regularly in the past.
Used to reminisce about past habits or frequent occurrences.
子供の頃はよく川で遊んだものだ。
When I was a child, I used to play in the river often.
Using 'yoku' with past tense verbs indicates a past habitual action.
学生時代はよく徹夜した。
I often pulled all-nighters when I was a student.
The English adjective 'habitual' is often translated as 習慣的な (しゅうかんてきな), but this sounds unnatural in many contexts. Use the patterns and words above for more natural Japanese.
I suffer from habitual lack of sleep.